King of the West Saxons. He succeeded his father Alfred the Great in 899. He reconquered southeast England and the Midlands from the Danes, uniting Wessex and Mercia with the help of his sister Aethelflaed. By the time of his death his kingdom was the most powerful in the British Isles. He was succeeded by his son Athelstan.

Edward extended the system of burghal defence begun by Alfred, building new burhs, for example at Hertford and Buckingham, and twin burhs at Bedford and Stamford

Timeline

900

Edward the Elder, son of Alfred, crowned at Kingston-upon-Thames

901

Edward the Elder takes the title "King of the Angles and Saxons"

902

Eric, ruler of the Danes in East Anglia, dies in the Battle of Holme

910

Reconquest of Danelaw lands begins. The last great Viking army sent to ravage England is defeated by an army of Wessex and Mercia.

913

Edward the Elder recaptures Essex from the Danes

915

Edward is accepted as overlord by Ragnald ruler of the Viking Kingdom of York

916

Edward's sister Aethlfleda of Mercia attacks and conquers most of Wales

916

Vikings establish settlements at Dublin and Waterford in Ireland

918

Edward becomes ruler of Mercia following the death of his sister Aethlfleda

920

Edward takes East Anglia from the Danes

923

The Scottish King Constantine II submits to Edward

924

Edward dies at Farndon-on-Dee near Chester leading an army against the Welsh. He is buried in Winchester.